Chinese big names in freestyle skiing like Turino Olympic Games
gold medal winner Han Xiaopeng and silver medalist Li Nina are all
absent from the roster of the 11th Winter Games aerial event slated
for Jan. 18 to Jan. 21.
According to Ren Hongguo, deputy president of the Chinese Skiing
Association, Han, Li and their two national teammates, Guo Xinxin
and Wang Jiao, will take part in two FIS World Cup events from
January 18 to 26 in the United States and Canada.
"Preparation for the coming Vancouver Winter Games is the
priority for the national teams. Therefore, Han and Li will miss
the national winter games due to an overlapped schedule," said
Ren.
Apart from the overlapped schedule, Ren revealed another cause
of the four elite jumpers' absence. Both Heilongjiang and Liaoning
had sponsored the training of the four athletes. However, the two
provinces failed to reach an agreement on which side they should
represent in the Winter Games. The four jumpers' absence can solve
the tricky problem in an indirect way.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)